Interfaces between components

Abstract

An assembly is disclosed including a first component, a second component, and a spacer component. The first component has a first interface surface. The second component has a second interface surface with a curvature different to the curvature of the first interface surface. The second component is connected to the first component such that the second interface surfaces faces the first interface surface. The spacer component is disposed between the first interface surface and the second interface surface and is configured to be pivotable relative to the first interface surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft assembly comprising:
 a first component having a first interface surface; 
 a second component having a second interface surface with a curvature, wherein the second component is connected to the first component by at least one fastener such that the second interface surfaces faces the first interface surface; 
 a spacer component disposed between the first interface surface and the second interface surface and configured to be pivotable relative to the first interface surface; 
 a magnetic attachment mechanism configured to retain the spacer component in contact with the first interface surface in the absence of any other retaining mechanism; 
 wherein one of the first component and the spacer component comprises a magnet and the other one of the first component and the spacer component comprises a ferromagnetic material, such that an attractive magnetic force exists between the first component and the spacer component; and 
 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a tension bolt and extends through the first component, the second component, and the spacer component; and 
 wherein the first interface surfaces is curved and the second interface surface is substantially flat, and wherein the spacer component has a substantially flat surface in contact with a region on the second interface surface, wherein the first component and the second component are angled relative to one another, and the magnitude of the gap between the first component and the second component is proportional to the angle between the first component and second component. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer component is configured to be pivotable about at least two orthogonal axes relative to the first interface surface. 
     
     
       3. The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the spacer component has a convex part-spherical surface in contact with a region on the first interface surface. 
     
     
       4. The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the region on the first interface surface is concave part-spherical and is configured to match the convex part-spherical surface of the spacer component. 
     
     
       5. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnet and/or the ferromagnetic material is configured such that the magnetic force is strong enough to retain the spacer component in contact with the first interface surface in the absence of any other retaining mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a region of the first interface surface in contact with the spacer component comprises a magnet or a ferromagnetic material, and at least one further region of the first interface surface comprises a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
       7. The assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a second spacer component disposed between the first interface surface and the second interface surface. 
     
     
       8. The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the spacer component and the second spacer component have substantially the same shape, but different thicknesses. 
     
     
       9. The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third component connected to the second component such that the first component is between the third component and the second component, wherein the first component comprises an interface plate having a further surface opposite to the first interface surface, the further surface being configured to match a surface of the third component which faces the first component. 
     
     
       10. The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the third component is comprised in a first aircraft structure and the second component is comprised in a second aircraft structure. 
     
     
       11. The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the first aircraft structure is a wing and the second aircraft structure is an engine mounting pylon. 
     
     
       12. An aircraft comprising the assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       13. A method of joining a first component to a second component in a predetermined relative position and orientation of the first and second components, the method comprising:
 providing a first component having a first interface surface; 
 providing a second component having a second interface surface; 
 measuring the configuration of the first interface surface and the configuration of the second interface surface; 
 determining the configuration of at least one gap between the first interface surface and the second interface surface when the first component and the second component are arranged in a desired relative position and orientation, based on the results of the measuring; 
 selecting at least one spacer component from a plurality of differently sized spacer components, based on the results of the determining; 
 arranging and retaining the at least one spacer component on the first component such that a first surface of the spacer component is in contact with the first interface surface; 
 pivoting the at least one spacer component until a second surface of the spacer component opposite the first surface is aligned with the second interface surface when the second component is in the desired position and orientation; 
 arranging the second component on the at least one spacer component such that the first component and the second component are in the desired relative position and orientation, the spacer component is in the at least one gap, and the spacer component is in contact with the first interface surface and the second interface surface; and 
 connecting the first component to the second component by a fastener comprising a tension bolt and extending through the first component, the second component, and the at least one spacer 
 wherein the first interface surfaces is curved and the second interface surface is substantially flat, and wherein the spacer component has a substantially flat surface in contact with a region on the second interface surface, wherein the first component and the second component are angled relative to one another, and the magnitude of the gap between the first component and the second component is proportional to the angle between the first component and second component. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13 , wherein performance of the method results in the formation of an assembly comprising
 a first component having a first interface surface; 
 a second component having a second interface surface with a curvature different to the curvature of the first interface surface, wherein the second component is connected to the first component such that the second interface surfaces faces the first interface surface; a spacer component disposed between the first interface surface and the second interface surface and configured to be pivotable relative to the first interface surface; and, 
 a magnetic attachment mechanism configured to retain the spacer component in contact with the first interface surface in the absence of any other retaining mechanism; 
 wherein one of the first component and the spacer component comprises a magnet and the other one of the first component and the spacer component comprises a ferromagnetic material, such that an attractive magnetic force exists between the first component and the spacer component.